No Reverse or engine shut-off during cold weather
Hello everyone, thank you all for the wide range of good postings. I resently acquired a very expensive vehicle (1979 300D, 174,880 miles) for the bank breaking price of $175.00. The car's been sitting in a field for over 8 years, just one step to the junk yard until I stepped in. Well thanks to a fello diesel car driving friend and I, we got the engine started, that's all it took, now I'm hooked. Did some massive preventive maintenance, still have a few vacuum problems, especially when it's real cold outside. No reverse or able to shut off engine, except manually. I'm more concern about the transmission, I had it flushed out a week ago. It's always been sluggish, now no reverse. Anyone have any ideas how to isolate if it's a vacuum problem, (already have vacuum gun).

Tony

Tony - a quick search using "reverse" and choosing "titles only" revealed the following:

I'm guessing this might be an alternative for the reverse problem. Others, more knowledgable like Rick, and now Ginny, might offer assistance.

Add your year, model & mileage to your signature to help others help you.

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83 300d - 390k

Thanks Rick for the info and advice, will do just that as soon as I get off work. I's warming up, my engine is shutting off now.

1979 300D 174,880 miles

Tony

Rick is the user "rs899" - if his post fixes the problem, be sure to send him a thank you message!

It sounds like your vacuum problem could need replacement of connectors; but again, there are hundreds of posts on shut-off problems. First step will be to pull vacuum on your shut off valve to make sure it's working. Then go from there.

As long as your car was sitting, you should probably just purchase some 3 & 4 way connectors and tubing and replace what is under your hood. Be very careful trying to get vacuum lines off from the main line going from the vacuum pump back to the brake booster. The small nipples tend to become brittle and break off.

- Mike

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83 300d - 390k

Tony, the reverse band adjustment screw/nut is located on the rt side of the transmission about half way (front to back) and half way up. I think it has a lock nut on it and you turn it in to adjust reverse band. Hope it works for you, my 77 300D did for a while, had to pull it last year and a friend rebuilt it for the kit, from DAACO, $250.

good luck
Ron

Thanks Ron, I was just starting to look for the location of the adjustment bolt. Mike thnaks to you too, for the engine shut-off problem will do just that. My next big problem is the climate control, someone walked away with a few parts from the engine compartment, I thnk it's called a regulator valve. I did a short fix to some of the vacuum lines and capped off the reminder (that's when things started to come to life). Thanks again to all of you out there for the drawings and assistance.

79 300D 174k

Tony

It's likely that the proper technical name for that part is "evil servo". If it's missing, that's one main source of your vacuum problems.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

"I had it flushed out a week ago."

What you may need is something to dissolve the old varnish which can gum up the tiny openings in the valve shifting body....which often have gravity working balls the size of BB's... to control the hydraulic acting things inside the transmission... a little varnish and they can't fall back into the default position and block off the proper hydraulic pressure routeing..
I suggest taking out enough of that new trans fluid to allow the addition of two cans of TRANS-X.... and then follow the directions. Lots of posts in the archives by me... and others... Greg

I fixed my reverse problem with Ricks help.
After picking up my car from the shop with amplifier problems, I asked the
shop owner if he could put it up on a rack.
It took no more than 15 seconds to find the reverse band adjustment and 4-5 full turns CW fixed the reverse. The shop owner backed the car out of the bay.

I turned it with my fingers, no tools. Your tranny needs to be the 722.1XX to have this adjustment. 722.2 and above don't have this.
Passengers side, close to the front of the tranny. There are other 'things' there that could hide the ajdustment screw.
Good luck!
You can read the whole thread that was referenced above to follow the story.

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Ginny in Denver-ish
78 300SD, 265K (mine)

Tony I second the suggestion to drain the tranny and clean it.

May be that the filter is clogged and all else.

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1979 300D 220 K miles
1995 C280 109 K miles
1992 Cadillac Eldorado Touring Coupe 57K miles SOLD
********************
1979 240D 140Kmiles (bought for parents) *SOLD.
SAN FRANCISCO/(*San Diego)
1989 300SE 148 K miles *SOLD

You have a 722.1xx.

Try the reverse band adjust first as noted above. If it were in the valve body you would probably see erratic shifting on other gears. (Not that you shouldn't change the fluid/filter anyway- you should)

And if it works, no more applause- just send money.

Rick

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80 300SD (129k mi) 82 240D stick (193k mi)77 240D auto - stick to be (153k mi) 85 380SL (145k mi) 89 BMW 535i 82 Diesel Rabbit Pickup (374k mi) 91 Jetta IDI Diesel (155k mi) 81 VW Rabbit Convertible Diesel 70 Triumph Spitfire Mk III (63kmi)66 Triumph TR4a IRS (90k mi)67 Ford F-100 (??)

To Rick rs899, problem fixed, the nut for the band adjustment was almost falling off, fingered tighten it now I can burn rubber in reverse. Thank you much.

79 300D 174,880 miles

Tony